Gurgaon-based Rissala Electric Motors today made its debut in the Indian electric mobility industry with the launch of its new EV brand called the Evolet. Under the Evolet brand, the manufacturer will retail three e-scooters – the Polo, Derby, Polo Pony – and an electric quad bike called Warrior.

The vehicles, priced from Rs 39,000 through to Rs 59,999, were launched in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. Gadkari said, "The government is aggressively promoting renewable resources and electric vehicles to curb pollution. We will do everything that is necessary to make the transition from fuel-based to electric vehicles as smooth as possible. The demand is very high as people are now aware of its benefits and harmful effects of fossil fuels on the environment and human beings. We are working on a multi-pronged approach and hope that soon India will have cleaner air to breathe."

The Polo e-scooter has two variants: the Polo EZ with a 48V/24Ah VRLA battery and the Polo Classic with a 48V/24Ah lithium-ion battery, priced at Rs 44,499 and Rs 54,499, respectively.

The Derby, an executive e-scooter, has a max speed of 25kph and a 60km range. The Derby, with waterproof BLDC motor also comes in two variants – the Derby EZ gets a 60V/30Ah VRLA battery while the Derby Classic has a 60 V/30 Ah lithium-ion battery. They are priced at Rs 46,499 and Rs 59,999, respectively.

The third e-scooter is the Polo Pony, which has a maximum speed of 25kph and a 60km range per charge. Like its stable-mates, this one too has two variants – the Pony EZ with a 48V/24Ah VRLA battery and the Polo Pony Classic with a 48V/24Ah lithium-ion battery – the former costs Rs 39,499 while the latter variant retails at Rs 49,499.

In the initial phase, the company is targeting markets including Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Countrywide, availability will happen over the next two months or so. According to Prerana Chaturvedi, spokesperson, Rissala Electric Motors, "We want to come up with a product that has no transportation cost and is affordable with good aftersales."

The electric scooters will be manufactured at a modern facility in Bilaspur, Haryana, which is spread over 1,00,000 square feet.

The company also showcased the Warrior – an electric quad bike that delivers gets a 3,000W powerplant, a maximum speed of 60kph, a top reverse speed of 20kph, and a 50km range on a single charge. The Warrior is available with a 72V/40Ah lithium-ion battery and costs Rs 1.4 lakh.

According to the company, top-end versions of its e-scooters are IoT-enabled and get the Evolet app, which provides information such as battery health, battery status, GPS and security tracking, and notifications when service is due. The company also offers a fast charger for shorter charging times that can charge the battery within 3 hours.

When TVS introduced the Jupiter ZX, it was believed to be the replacement to the top-spec Grande model. However, we have now learned that the company is looking to re-introduce the Jupiter Grande, with many new features this time around.

The biggest update is expected to come in the form of a Bluetooth-enabled digital instrument cluster that will display a host of information. We have learned that this screen will be similar to the one on the Ntorq, but it won’t be as comprehensive in terms of information displayed. We expect the display to show mobile phone statistics like the battery percentage and network coverage, along with caller and SMS information. It will also pair with TVS’ Connect application that enables the use of more features. The addition will make the TVS the first scooter in the 110cc segment with this feature.

The Grande will also get an LED headlight similar to the one on the previous-gen model. Additionally, the Jupiter Grande is also expected to use a new alloy wheel design that gets a diamond-cut finish. While the bodywork is expected to remain the same as before, the updated Jupiter Grande will get new colour options and graphics.

It is also expected to carry forward the same 109.7cc, single-cylinder engine that generates 8hp and 8.4Nm of peak torque. The scooter will not be a BS6 model at launch; instead it’ll be BS4-compliant as the transition to BS6 would raise the cost of the scooter, which isn't favourable in such a price sensitive segment. The inevitable upgrade is likely to happen at a later date, closer to the April 2020 deadline for BS6 norms.

TVS will price the Grande around Rs 1,000-1,200 higher than the Jupiter ZX (Rs 57,443-59,950). We believe the company will launch the new scooter in the festive season, just as the previous Jupiter Grande was last year.

Following the launch of the Electric Optima ER and Nyx ER last week, Hero Electric has now introduced a new model in its portfolio - the Dash. Priced at Rs 62,000, the Dash is powered by a 28Ah Lithium-ion battery that takes a claimed 4 hours for a full charge. At full capacity, the e-scooter will provide a claimed range of 60km, which is rather low, but then Hero Electric has said that most of its range is targeted at commercial usage.

Standard features on the Dash include LED DRLs and headlight, a digital instrument cluster, USB charging port, tubeless tyres, and a remote access to the boot (under the seat).

Currently, Hero Electric has 615 touchpoints across the nation and intends to take that number to 1,000 by the end of 2020. The company has revealed that they also have plans to ramp up production to 5 lakh units per annum in the next three years.

Li-ions Elektrik Solutions, a Gurgaon-based company, has launched its first electric scooter, the Spock, for which prices range between Rs 65,000-99,000 (on-road).

Owing to its commercial design, the Spock features a large basket in the front and a luggage box that occupies the pillion seat. We’ve been informed that the company already has a tie-up with BigBasket for its delivery needs and that 60 percent of scooters purchased so far have been assigned to the e-commerce giant. Furthermore, the company is also in talks with Amazon and Swiggy to add its scooters to the delivery chains’ line-ups.

The Spock is powered by a 2.9kWh swappable battery that works alongside a 2.1kW motor that helps the scooter reach a top speed of 45kph. The Spock also gets two power modes – Economy (130km range), Power (100km range), and Reverse. Other features include GPS navigation, a USB charger, a digital instrument cluster and an optional anti-theft alarm. A low seat height of 760mm and weight (without battery) of 90kg should make the scooter more accessible to most people. It also has a ground clearance of 200mm and sports 90/90 -12 tyres at either end.

The figures claimed by the Spock are certainly impressive and are even better than those of some more established electric scooters in our market. However, the accuracy of these figures and the difference in its real-world performance (if any), remains to be seen.

]]>Vishal Venugopal Vishal Venugopal Li-ions Elektrik Spock e-scooter launched from Rs 65,0002461402461401Tue, 2 Jul 2019 13:34:00 +1000413324Vishal Venugopal Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000The Spock has been designed for commercial use and will soon be added to the fleets of some e-commerce companies.The Spock has been designed for commercial use and will soon be added to the fleets of some e-commerce companies.Tue, 2 Jul 2019 13:34:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-news/li-ions-elektrik-spock-e-scooter-launched-from-rs-65000-413324#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Scooters+up+to+110cc+feed4133242019 TVS Jupiter ZX launched at Rs 56,093

TVS has launched two variants of the Jupiter ZX – drum and disc. The drum-brake model has been priced at Rs 56,093, while the front disc brake-equipped version will set you back Rs 58,645 (both prices, ex-showroom, Delhi). Both come equipped with TVS’ version of combined brakes, called SBT, as standard. The ZX variant now gets many new features, including an LED headlight and a digi-analogue instrument cluster.

Changes on ZX include the aforementioned LED headlight, digi-analogue instrument cluster and a new adjustable monoshock. These features were present on the Jupiter before, but only on the top-spec Grande version, which has now been discontinued. However, that doesn’t mean the ZX has evolved into the Grande, as it still misses out on the unique alloy wheels, a seat cover pattern and chrome trim pieces the latter came equipped with.

For 2019, the Jupiter ZX is only available in two colour schemes – Starlight blue and Royal Wine. Everything else on the ZX remains identical to the older model. It carries forward the same 109.7cc, single-cylinder engine that generates 8hp and 8.4Nm of peak torque.

With the new version, TVS appears to be directly targeting the 110cc Activa 5G that also features an LED headlight and digi-analogue gauge. The Activa 5G, however, is slightly cheaper at Rs 54,632 (drum) and Rs 56,497 (disc).

Honda has officially launched the Activa 5G Limited Edition, with prices starting at Rs 55,032 (for the Activa 5G Limited Edition STD) and going up to Rs 56,897 for the Activa 5G Limited Edition DLX). As we had earlier reported, the limited edition colour schemes will be available on both variants of the Activa 5G.

The two color schemes are ‘Strontium Silver Metallic with Pearl Igneous Black’ and ‘Pearl Precious White with Matte Selene Silver’. Apart from the dual-tone colours, the scooters get different graphics, black rims, a chrome muffler cover and a blacked-out engine. On the latter colour scheme, the grab rail, inner side of the apron and seat cover is also finished in a brown colour.

Honda will soon be launching two limited-edition colour schemes of one of the highest selling scooters in the country – the Activa 5G. The scooter is available in STD and DLX variants, and both will be offered with the limited-edition colours that come at a reasonable hike of Rs 400. The limited-edition STD is priced at Rs 55,032, while the limited-edition DLX costs Rs 56,897 (both prices, ex-showroom, Delhi). Dealerships are accepting bookings for the scooter, with deliveries set to start later this week.

The special dual-toned colour options include a silver and black scheme and a pearl white and gold one. Meanwhile, the seat and inside of the apron on the latter receive a brown finish. The scooters also get blacked-out wheels, a pinstripe down the front mudguard and one along the side body panels with a ‘Limited Edition’ decal.

Hero’s ‘why should boys have all the fun?’ tag line for the Pleasure was marketing genius. It made such an impact that it is considered to be one of the largest contributing factors to the formation of the lightweight, entry-level scooter segment that is targeted at the female demographic in India. The tag line also has to be thanked for keeping the Pleasure relevant for nearly one and a half decades. Relevancy, however, isn’t enough to curb dwindling sales, especially when a product hasn’t evolved since its inception. Well, it finally has and it's now called the Pleasure Plus, and all-new styling and a slightly more powerful engine are among the biggest new updates.

What's new with the engine?

You may be surprised to hear this, but the older Pleasure was one of the highest capacity scooters in its segment when it made its debut. Back in the mid-2000s, it took on other lightweight scooters like the TVS Scooty Pep, Kinetic Zing and Bajaj Spirit, all of which sat somewhere near the 80cc mark, while the Pleasure had a 102cc unit. But a lot has changed since then, and 100cc just doesn’t cut it anymore. That’s why the Pleasure Plus gets the 110.9cc engine found in the Duet and regular Maestro Edge, making 8.1hp and 8.7Nm of torque.

The engine is exactly what you'd expect it to be – it starts up without a fuss, builds speed at a moderate pace and doesn't make a lot of noise while it's at it. It is smooth as well but it doesn’t feel as refined as some Japanese 110cc scooters in India. The new Pleasure Plus definitely feels a lot faster than the older Pleasure and even went up to a speedo-indicated 90kph – the older model had a claimed top speed of 77kph. The exact figures can only be ascertained once we get the opportunity to Vbox-test it. Throttle response on this scooter feels slightly sedated, however, that could be a deliberate move (like many other aspects we will discuss) since it is a scooter meant for beginners. The Pleasure Plus misses out on Hero's auto start-stop tech called i3S.

What does it look like?

Before diving into technicalities like the ride quality and handling, let’s discuss the scooter’s styling because that along with the pricing is what draws buyers into dealerships. The design has changed quite significantly; the company has moved on to a design that, from some angles, appears to be from the 1970s. But going retro never hurt and it is, in fact, a compliment because scooters from that era were just prettier. However, Hero wasn’t the first scooter maker to go down this road in India, which is why the headlight looks inspired from the one of the Suzuki Access 125 and the bodywork has a little Yamaha Fascino in it. That said, it is still a unique design and will stand out on our roads, especially in this classic light blue colour scheme. If the blue is not to your liking, Hero has six other shades on offer too.

Now while it is pretty from afar, up close, the scooter looks and feels built to a cost. Some of the plastic body panels flex more than needed and so does the rear portion of the seat when the front seat is occupied. We also picked up on the front apron vibrating at speeds above 30-40kph. Hero states that these are pre-production units and that fit and finish will improve before deliveries begin, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for that.

The Pleasure Plus is a budget scooter, but it still gets little additions like a USB charging socket near the open front glovebox and an LED underseat light. Everything else remains quite basic, including the halogen bulb-powered headlight and conventional analogue instrument cluster.

What is it like to ride?

It takes under five minutes to get familiar with the Pleasure 110. The small dimensions, the low 765mm seat height, and the 101kg kerb weight make it beginner-friendly. The scooter also feels very agile, but stability isn’t its strong suits as it runs 10-inch wheels at both ends.

The Hero Pleasure 110 comes with a basic drum brake and trailing arm front suspension and this setup works as well as you could hope it would. The brakes get the job done without complaint, and it features combined braking. However, it was set up to be beginner-friendly, with the rear being a lot sharper than the front. Overall, comfort levels are perfectly acceptable and well-suited for its purpose.

Should I buy one?

Hero is known for its competitive pricing and at Rs 47,300 (drum variant) and Rs 49,700 (disc variant) the manufacturer has corroborated this. It costs just around Rs 2,000 more than the older 100cc Pleasure, that in comparison feels outclassed. The scooter also comfortably undercuts rivals like the Yamaha Fascino (Rs 55,623), Honda Activa-i (Rs 50,974), TVS Scooty Zest (Rs 50,020) and the TVS Wego (Rs 52,162). What we can’t say right now is if it has got what it takes to be segment best, but the Pleasure Plus makes sense if you’re after a scooter that is easy to ride, easy to own and easy on the eyes.

Hero has finally updated the Pleasure, and it’s received a rather significant update for 2019. Dubbed the Hero Pleasure Plus, the scooter has been priced at Rs 47,300 for a sheet metal wheel variant and Rs 49,300 for an alloy wheel variant(ex-showroom, Delhi). The scooter has been redesigned and is now powered by the larger 110.9cc motor also seen on the Duet and Maestro Edge.

When the Hero Pleasure was launched, the scooter was marketed as one that catered to women. This new iteration of the scooter continues to follow a similar approach with its simple styling, devoid of excessively sharp or aggressive lines. The headlight is an all-new unit with a matte-silver trim which gives the scooter a snub-nosed appearance. Just like on the older model, the indicators are located on the front panel and are connected by a similar matte-silver trim. Changes in design are also prominent towards the rear, where the scooter gets larger – body-coloured panels flow into a redesigned tail-light section.

The 110.9cc single-cylinder motor makes 8.1hp and 8.7Nm of torque and the Hero Pleasure Plus has a kerb weight of 101kg. For reference, the older 102cc engine on the older Hero Pleasure makes 7hp and 8.1Nm of torque. The slightly bigger engine, and the increase in performance it brings, could not have come any sooner in a scooter segment that is steadily heading towards the 125cc and 150cc mark.

At a base price of Rs 47,300, the Hero Pleasure Plus costs Rs 2,200 more than the Rs 45,100 price tag on the base variant of the older Pleasure.

In terms of competition, the Pleasure Plus will take on scooters like the Yamaha Fascino (Rs 55,623) and the Honda Dio (Rs 52,938).

All prices ex-showroom, Delhi.

]]>Vishal Venugopal Vishal Venugopal Hero Pleasure Plus 110 launched at Rs 47,3002461402461401Mon, 13 May 2019 11:49:00 +1000412697Vishal Venugopal Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000The updated Hero Pleasure scooter is now powered by a 110.9cc motor and has received a cosmetic overhaul as well.The updated Hero Pleasure scooter is now powered by a 110.9cc motor and has received a cosmetic overhaul as well.Mon, 13 May 2019 11:49:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-news/hero-pleasure-plus-launched-at-rs-47300-412697#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Scooters+up+to+110cc+feed412697